Tajh Boyd wrapped up his junior season with a win against LSU in the Chick-fil-A Bowl and he was named game MVP. / Paul Abell, USA TODAY Sports

by Scott Keepfer, USA TODAY Sports

by Scott Keepfer, USA TODAY Sports

CLEMSON, S.C. - Clemson's football season has been over for more than a week, but as far as most Clemson fans are concerned, quarterback Tajh Boyd completed the biggest pass of his career Wednesday.

Boyd passed up a chance to enter the professional ranks early, choosing to remain at Clemson for his senior season.

"I've enjoyed my time here at Clemson, been part of a great family, learned so much as a person and a player, and I don't think I'm ready to give that up yet," Boyd said during a news conference at Clemson Memorial Stadium. "I'm around people who really care about me."

Boyd had submitted the necessary paperwork to the NFL Advisory Board, but in the end believed he could not only enhance his NFL stock with another strong season with the Tigers, but perhaps leave even more of a legacy.

"I want to compete for championships, and I feel like it's that time," said Boyd, who guided the Tigers to an 11-2 season and No. 9 national ranking capped with a 25-24 victory against LSU in the Chick-fil-A Bowl. "There are things for us to go out there and accomplish."

Including a season-opening showdown against Georgia that Boyd noted was "just 234 days away."

"We start with a banger, with Georgia coming here," Boyd said. "It's going to be fun."

Boyd's junior season resulted in plenty of fun, too. Boyd passed for 3,896 yards with 36 touchdowns en route to first-team all-Atlantic Coast Conference honors for a second straight year.

Boyd, who was ACC Player of the Year, also rushed for 514 yards and 10 scores.

"Let's go rush for 800 (next season)," Boyd said, laughing.

Boyd also is looking forward to another season as the team's leader.

"The main objective for this team is to win games and I want to do everything possible to make that happen," said Boyd, who's just six credit hours shy of his undergraduate degree in sociology. "We've got some young guys on the team who still need advice and guidance, and I'd like to be here for them."

If Boyd produces another big season, he could become just the second quarterback to be first-team All-ACC quarterback three times. He also has a chance to be the first to repeat as ACC Player of the Year since Florida State quarterback Charlie Ward in 1992-93.

Boyd has posted eight of the top 10 passing games in Clemson history, but despite setting 25 school and nine ACC records last season, most NFL analysts believed that Boyd was not a lock to be a first-round selection in April's draft.

"One more year of NFL evaluations is big," said ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. "If you're not guaranteed to be a first-round pick, coming back is a big benefit. You ask so much of a rookie, and the second year, that extra year, helps."

Boyd says most draft projections he received had him rated as a late-second to fourth-round pick, so he'll continue to seek improvement.

"There's always room to develop, room to grow," Boyd said. "I believe I can be (a first-round guy). It's going to take a tremendous amount of work, but that's something we're used to around here."

Now another question looms, namely, will Boyd be joined for another season by standout wide receiver DeAndre "Nuk" Hopkins? Hopkins, a fellow junior who caught 82 passes for 1,405 yards with 18 touchdowns last season, has to reach a decision about his future by Jan. 15.

He has been projected as a possible first-round selection, particularly after a Chick-fil-A Bowl performance that included 13 receptions for 191 yards with two touchdowns.

"Hopefully he's with us, but at the same time everyone has to do what's best for their needs," Boyd said.